Board Governance, Strategic Planning, & Board Retreats

(in a perfect world)

www.dowellmgmt.com

Section Policy Governance

1

We can’t talk about strategic planning until we

understand the role of the board.

In a perfect world

Board Governance

“Boards That Make a Difference: A New Design for Leadership

in Nonprofit and Public Organizations”

By John Carver

Policy Governance Overview

In a perfect world

Board Governance

“The board governs… the staff manages”

Leadership: Volunteer leaders are responsible for the direction of the

organization. The board governs, develops policy, and sets a course for the

future. Maintain focus on the mission and strategic goals – avoid micro-

managing the organization and staff.

4 Functions

• Governance

• Policy & Position Development

• Visionary – Future Focus

• Fiduciary

Policy Governance Overview

In a perfect world

Board Governance

“The board governs… the staff manages”

Management: Paid staff and contractors are responsible for the

administration of the organization. Staff act as partners to the board,

advancing the goals and strategies, while taking care of the daily

administrative needs unique to organizations.

Policy Governance Overview

In a perfect world

Board Governance

Policy Governance separates issues of organization

purpose (ENDS) from all other organization issues

(MEANS), placing primary importance on those Ends.

Policy Governance boards demand accomplishment of

purpose, and only limit the staff’s available means to

those which do not violate the board’s pre-stated

standards of prudence and ethics.

Policy Governance Overview

In a perfect world

Board Governance

The Policy Governance Model enables boards to:

• Focus on the larger issues

• Delegate with clarity

• Control management’s job without meddling

• Rigorously evaluate the accomplishment of the

organization

• Truly lead!

Policy Governance Overview

Section Strategic Planning

2

It’s hard to know what to focus on unless you’re

working toward a goal.

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning 101

• Everything the organization does flows from its strategic

vision

• Strategic planning determines where an organization is

going over the next year or more and how it’s going to

get there.

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Importance of Mission/Vision

Mission: Statement indicating why we’re in business

• Disney 1: The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to

be one of the world's leading producers and providers of

entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to

differentiate our content, services and consumer products, we

seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable

entertainment experiences and related products in the world.

• Disney 2: To make people happy.

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Importance of Mission/Vision Vision: Vision statements answer questions like: What do we

want to be in the future? What are the ideal circumstances we

want to operate under?

• Microsoft: A personal computer in every home running Microsoft software

• Coca-Cola: To achieve sustainable growth, we have established a vision with clear goals. Profit: Maximizing return to share owners while being mindful of our overall responsibilities. People: Being a great place to work where people are inspired to be the best they can be. Portfolio: Bringing to the world a portfolio of beverage brands that anticipate and satisfy people; desires and needs. Partners: Nurturing a winning network of partners and building mutual loyalty. Planet: Being a responsible global citizen that makes a difference.

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Value Statements

Like any organization, your Chamber needs to stand for certain things.

The collective beliefs and values are important, and chambers should

measure their current and prospective activities against them.

Examples:

• First and foremost, we are a customer-driven organization

• In order to be successful as an organization, the Chamber industry must

be successful in and of itself.

• Growth is a key indicator of the success of the organization.

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Value Statements

Examples (cont.):

• It is our responsibility to look toward the future and to provide

visionary leadership.

• Solutions within the community are better developed through

opportunities created by market-driven sectors, then through

government mandates.

• Risk-taking and entrepreneurism should be encouraged and rewarded

• We believe individuals in the business community should be actively

involved in the political process.

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Discovery

Development

Decision

Strategic Planning steps are similar regardless of who facilitates the process…

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Discovery

Research phase. The outcome of this

phase is a work plan that translates

your strategic planning goals into key

questions, activities, and milestones..

•Focus groups •Survey Work •In-depth interviews •SWOT •Review industry trends

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Discovery

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Discovery

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Development

Discussion phase. Go through a process that

engages leadership in discussion of the

organization’s future based on the information

obtained in the Discovery Phase.

•Revisit mission, vision, and values

•Identify factors critical to success

•Prioritize key strategies

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Decision

Put it on paper. Prepare a written draft strategic

plan and summary reflecting the work completed in

the Development Phase. The organization’s role

during this phase is to ensure that the plan is

realistic given the capacity of the organization and

its resources.

• Organize goals, strategies, tactics, resources, and

accountability

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Strategy vs. Tactic

• Strategy: A plan of action designed to achieve a goal; an idea

• Example: “Build the company’s brand”

• Tactic: An action you take to execute the strategy

• Example: “Hire a celebrity to endorse our product”

Strategic Goal: Grow Jobs + Attract Investment

Strategies Tactics Resources Needed Timeline Accountability

Chamber is the

private sector

leader on economic

development for

the region,

partnering with the

Foundation to

accomplish regional

goals.

The Chamber will develop an

Economic Development

Committee

Volunteers, preferably

with ED experience

Start meetings by

February 2013

Executive

Director

Clarify Chamber’s role in

economic development with

leaders of the Foundation

Executive Director

work with EDF

Have signed

agreement by

January 2011

Executive

Director

Invest in building the Chamber’s

capacity to implement economic

development activities

Time to accumulate

data, budget

Plan of action by

March 2013

Executive

Committee

Chamber supports

innovation and new

business

development for

the region.

Explore existing resources in the

community and determine what

is needed

Those with knowledge

in business

development

Delegate to ED

committee ED committee

Develop programs for members

and non-members on business

skills

Local business people

with expertise

Delegate to ED

committee ED committee

The Chamber’s top priority is to create jobs and attract investment for the community. This requires

the Chamber to effectively lead select economic development initiatives and partner with the Economic

Development Foundation.

In a perfect world

Strategic Planning

Common Pitfalls

• Organizations get hung up on the tactics, miss the big picture

• No structure for accountability to manage plan implementation

• No check-ins to update strategic plan as major shifts in external or

internal environment occur

Section Board Retreats

3

Do more with your annual check-in

In a perfect world

Board Retreats

Board Retreats 101

•Annual retreats most often focus on operations, or annual

business planning

•Should be used to build off of and update strategic vision

•Address tactical concerns

In a perfect world

Board Retreats

Sample Board Retreat Agenda Items

• Board survey/evaluation

•Keep, kill, edit programs

•SWOT exercise

•Program evaluations

•Team building activities

• Mission/Vision check-in

•Membership Satisfaction

Survey (MACE model)

• Strategic plan review/update

•Board roles and

responsibilities

In a perfect world

Board Retreats

Sample Board Evaluation Results

Question Score

The Board and management understand and respect each other's roles 4.7

Board meetings allow for candid and constructive discussion 4.6

I feel comfortable asking critical questions at Board meetings 4.6

We make decisions based on what's best for The Chamber 4.6

We have a shared vision 4.6

We debate issues without getting personal 4.6

I understand my role as a Board member 4.6

The organization has the appropriate number of board committees in place 4.2

The Board plays an effective role in the strategic planning process and the implementation of the tree-year plan 4.1

The Board has established appropriate and clear benchmarks to measure the strategic objectives 4.1

In a perfect world

Organizational Planning

Recap

Role of the Board Policy Governance

Strategic

Plan

Annual

Check-ins/

Retreats

thank you

ww.dowellmgmt.com